Herpesvirus

From Wacklepedia - The Free Encyclopedia

Herpesvirus is the name of a group of viruses. In colloquial use herpes virus refers to the herpes simplex viruses, particularly when transmitted sexually: in scientific use herpesvirus (without the space) refers to a taxonomic family of viruses.

There are eight types of human herpesviruses (HHV) known to cause disease in humans:

• HHV-1 = HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus 1): causes colds sores/genital herpes
• HHV-2 = HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus 2): causes colds sores/genital herpes
• HHV-3 = VZV (varicella-zoster virus): causes chickenpox and shingles
• HHV-4 = EBV (Epstein-Barr virus), lymphocryptovirus: causes mononucleosis
• HHV-5 = CMV (cytomegalovirus): causes mononucleosis, retinitis, etc.
• HHV-6 = roseolovirus: causes "sixth disease" (roseola infantum, exanthem subitum)
• HHV-7 = roseolovirus: causes "sixth disease" (roseola infantum, exanthem subitum)
• HHV-8 = rhadinovirus = KSHV = Kaposi's Sarcoma herpesvirus